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Chapter 37 Little Stepmother

The owner of the caravan was still in the corner, negotiating with the gatekeepers with constant bows.

Uncle Rong Kui frowned and called Xu Yuan: "Wait a moment, let's see what's going on."

The caravan owner believed in "be kind to others when you are away from home" and took ten cents from them. At noon, he invited them to have lunch with the caravan members, giving each of them two pancakes and a bowl of soup with dried meat.

Xu Yuan just waited.

It didn't take long before the team leader impatiently waved the host back.

When Uncle Rong Kui passed by, he asked, "Haven't you figured it out yet?"

The host glanced at the captain, shook his head, and said, "We'll see tomorrow..."

There are several inns just outside the city walls that cater to this type of caravan business, so there's no need to worry about not being able to stay overnight.

Uncle Rong Kui immediately understood what was going on and cursed, "These idiots are breaking the rules again."

The boss sighed: "When you are away from home, you should endure it as much as you can..."

Uncle Rong Kui grabbed him and said, "Follow me!"

"Hey hey hey..." The boss actually didn't want to go. He accepted to earn less this time. He would have to take this route again in the future. If he really offended the team leader, he would be harassed every time he came.

But Uncle Rongkui's grip was incredibly strong. He pulled him to the front of the team and unceremoniously threw his badge at him: "Open your dog eyes and look! How dare you mess with my father-in-law?"

The captain took it in his hand and saw that it was the waist badge of the demon-killing army. He shuddered immediately, and his originally arrogant attitude changed drastically. He nodded and returned the waist badge with both hands: "Sir, I am blind. Don't worry, from now on, your old Taishan will not charge a penny from me as long as he passes by me!"

The title on the waist badge is "General Flag Officer", which means he is not one of the top soldiers in the "Demon Extermination Camp".

The demon-hunting army is responsible for gathering intelligence and eliminating traitors.

Doesn't that mean whoever is the traitor is the one?

You say you are not?
Come, come, come and see the 108 kinds of torture instruments of our Demon-Extermination Unit.

"Humph!" Uncle Rong Kui snorted coldly, "That's more like it."

The captain kicked and stomped his men hurriedly, urging them to move: "Everyone, move! Make way for this gentleman."

Then he ran to the front of the convoy and directed the driver to drive into the city gate.

Everyone in the caravan was shocked. They didn't expect that the two hitchhikers they picked up on the road were actually big shots.

The boss had been doing business in Huangming for twenty years, and for the first time he entered the city without spending a penny!
The team leader led his people behind the city gate, constantly bowing and waving, seeing Uncle Rong Kui and the caravan off.

After turning a corner and losing sight of the captain and the others, Uncle Rong Kui waved his hand and said, "Alright, let's say goodbye."

Uncle Rong Kui was about to leave with Xu Yuan in tow when the host hurriedly said, "Sir, I do have a daughter, she's only 28 years old..."

Uncle Rong Kui yelled, "Get lost! I'm helping you, and you really want to be my father-in-law!"

The host clasped his fists and bowed deeply on the roadside, expressing his gratitude and bidding the two farewell.

Uncle Rong Kui was very proud and quietly observed Xu Yuan's reaction.

Of course, he didn't help out of kindness, or it could be said that his kindness was only 30% at most.

Xu Yuan, however, had a calm expression on his face. He said to Uncle Rong Kui, "Let's say goodbye now. I need to go home. My house is too cramped to entertain guests. I won't invite Uncle Rong Kui to come over."

After saying that, Xu Yuan also bowed and turned to leave.

Uncle Rong Kui hurriedly called out to him, "Will you really not reconsider this?"

Xu Yuan turned back and said solemnly, "Uncle Rong Kui, the demon-killing army is very impressive, I saw it all.

You said that following my second uncle would bring me a good future and a high salary, and I believe it, but I really don't want to join the demon-hunting army, so don't waste your energy.

I'm going home now, don't follow me - my stepmother has a bad temper, I don't dare to offend her, I advise you not to do this either."

Xu Yuan turned and left again: "That's all I have to say."

Uncle Rong Kui looked at his resolute back, opened his mouth, and finally slapped his thigh dejectedly.

He identified the direction and went to a local freight station.

That place was also a secret outpost of the Demon-Slaying Army. Xu Yuan was unwilling to join the Demon-Slaying Army. Uncle Rong Kui had already sent a letter last night through Widow Yang. Now Uncle Rong Kui could only wait for further instructions from his old brother and new commander. ...

Xu Yuan seriously considered whether to join the demon-hunting army.

It seems that my second uncle has made something of himself. Joining the demon-hunting army and using his power to solve the "problems" at home seems to be a good choice.

But Uncle Rong Kui first observed himself secretly, and when he found out that he had the ability, he became very anxious.

Xu Yuan didn't dare to go.

Xu Yuan has never seen his second uncle since he can remember.

How much love can such a relative have for oneself?

He suddenly came to find me, was he really out of kindness and wanted to "bless" me... or was there something dangerous that required someone like me as a "nephew" to do it?
Xu Yuan actually didn't want to get a definite answer.

After all, he is my second uncle and my father’s only younger brother.

I don’t know the answer, we are still relatives.

Shanhe County is not big. Xu Yuan grew up here and is familiar with every street and alley here... as well as the low walls and dog holes that can be used to take shortcuts.

In less than an incense stick of time, Xu Yuan stood at the east entrance of Hegong Lane.

The alley is roughly in the shape of an "A", with an exit on the east and west sides, and there are seven or eight families living in it.

The two families at the innermost end are the Xu family and the family of Mr. Shen who bought the dog-skin plaster.

Uncle Shen has always been very proud of the excellent efficacy of his own dog-skin plaster, so "good wine needs no bush".

There are two entrances to the alley. On the east side is Uncle Mao's carpentry shop, and on the west side is Aunt Wang's folding basket shop.

The door of the carpenter's shop was locked, and Uncle Mao must have gone out to work.

Xu Yuan entered the alley and his pace involuntarily quickened.

I walked all the way to the door of my house - it was a small door.

The door of the stage is the main entrance, located in the middle of the "ao" character, and is only opened when the show starts.

Xu Yuan pushed the door and went in.

crunch--

The sound of the wooden door startled a little woman in the yard. She was wearing a blue cotton lining jacket and a starched white apron. She rolled up her sleeves to reveal her arms as white as lotus roots. She was washing clothes in the yard.

Her black hair was tied up in a bun, making her fair and delicate face look even more charming. She was only in her early twenties. When she heard the voice, she turned her head to look at the door. Seeing that it was Xu Yuan, a flash of surprise welled up in her lacquered eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

……

Xu Yuan also saw his stepmother.

The afternoon sun was lazily shining over the west wall and onto the well at the east end.

The wooden basin was placed under the edge of the well, with a washboard inside. When the stepmother turned her head to look at her, a few strands of hair fell from her forehead, and when the sunlight hit her, they became a translucent hazy state.

The moment she saw me, her red lips parted slightly, and her bright eyes flashed with surprise, astonishment, and astonishment, which finally condensed into a little doubt: "Qiao Ziang drove you back?"

She stood up quickly and was almost the same height as Xu Yuan.

The scholars of the Ming Dynasty still liked skinny horses, and she obviously did not conform to this morbid aesthetic.

But she is agile, capable, and heroic, just like the row of bamboos at the base of the wall behind her, which are green and tall.

The woman threw the half-wrapped clothes in her hand back into the wooden basin with a bang, splashing a cloud of soapy water foam.

"I'll go and argue with him!" She picked up the washboard.

　Asking for a monthly ticket.

　　There are also nights.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)